East Suffolk Line

(22-04-2007)

Upgrades for East Suffolk Line in Draft Rail Plan

Network Rail published its draft ten year plan for rail improvements across the whole of East Anglia 18 April 2007. The consultation document, known as the Greater Anglia Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS), lists ways to improve performance and reliability, as well as increase capacity, up to the year 2016/17. The improvements are achieved by identifying gaps in the region's rail services, then proposing solutions through either timetable revisions, new or upgraded infrastructure, more frequent services, or longer trains.

170201 leaves Beccles heading to Oulton Broad South

The draft plan lists two options which would greatly benefit existing East Suffolk Line passengers and attract new passengers. Currently the line is only one of two rural routes in East Anglia which have a less-than-hourly train service; the other is Ipswich to Peterborough. Two options in the draft would bring an hourly service to all or part of the East Suffolk Line. One option (known as option #14) lists the Beccles Loop: this increases frequency to hourly on the entire 49 mile line between Lowestoft and Ipwich. It requires building a dual section of track at Beccles. Another option (known as option #15) would provide an hourly service between Ipswich and Saxmundham, reflecting growth in the area.

The RUS also recommends doubling a vert short section of single track at East Suffolk Junction just north of Ipswich; this is where the East Suffolk Line meets the Norwich to London mainline. This particular upgrade is not required to provide hourly services on the East Suffolk Line, but it would alleviate a future bottleneck that could arise when additional freight trains to the Port of Felixstowe begin using that section of the line.

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